Process of and apparatus for felting hats



(No Model.)

G. YULE.

Process of and Apparatus for Felting Hats.

' No. 243,266, Patemed May i0, 1881'.

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N. FETEHS. Fhalo-Lithographer, Washington. D.'C.

ilnrrnn STATES TAT-Eur @rricn.

GEORGE YULE, OF NEWARK, NEYV JERSEY.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS .FOR FELTING HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,266, dated May 10,1881.

Application filed February 4, 1881. (No model) tion of a rollerfelting-machine supplied with my improved steam-jacket and perforatedroller. Fig. 2 is a plan of the two lower rollers of such a machine,showing the lower part of the steam-jacket, where it incases therollers, and exhibiting the perforated roller. partly in section, toshow the induction and eduction apertures. Fig. 3 is a perspective Viewof a steam-box adapted to heat the felts under a limited pressurewithout agitation orrolling of the felts; and Fig.4is an end view ofthebox and the pressing-plates lifted therefrom to remove the rolls offelts.

My invention consists in an improvement upon the process hitherto in usefor felting hat-bodiesby means of rollers. wherein the felts have alwaysbeen prepared for the action of the rollers by one of two methods-via,dipping in boiling water or rolling in a rotatin g barrel supplied withsteam. The operation of the steam was found to be preferable to that ofthe water upon new and tender felts; but having discovered that theagitation of the felts in the barrel produced a grainy or mottled feltin the finished article, and such quality being very undesirable, I havedevised a change in the process at the first stage to avoid suchresults, and secure the utmost advantage from the subjection of thefelts to steam before applying any rolling action or pressure to them.In place of the tumbling of the rolls of felt loosely about in abarrel,I envelope them inan atmosphere of steam under such circumstances thatthey may be penetrated with the heat and moisture, and merely warmed andsoftened pre paratory to the operation of the rolls. The tender feltsare then subjected to a rollin g pressure in rollers revolved at a slowrate of speed-say able to bear the usual treatment with hot water androlls running at speeds varying from one hundred to one hundred andfifty turns per min nte.

By the use of the steam-box I have found that the felts produced were ofmuch better quality than those rolled in a steam-barrel, and I have alsofound that weights applied to the felts in the steam-box werebeneficial, and I have devised the arrangement shown in Figs. 3, and 4as the most convenient for steaming and pressing the felts in a box upona large scale.

A is the box, having a'lid, B, and supplied with steam by a pipe, 0.

D are a series of shelves, perforatedlongitudinally at d forthecirculation of the steam, and upon their surface at d for the diffusionof the vapor among the felts E, arranged inside between the severalshelves. When packed in the box the weight of the shelves presses thefelts to a moderate degree, and keeps the rolls and various felts inbetter condition than when the same are steamed without any suchconstraint.

To insert the felts between the shelves with facility the latter may beconnected by jointed links 1 at their endspand the Whole can thus belifted out together, as seen in Fig. 4, to remove and replace thefelts,the links permitting the shelves to separate sufficiently for theseobjects.

I have also found thatrollers can be operated to great advantagein astrong vapor of steam, and have therefore devised the apparatus shown inFig. 1, consisting of' a steam-jacket surrounding the rollers, toreceive and retain steam in close proximity to them.

a the upper roller, mounted in the usual way in a swing-frame, b, hingedto ears 1), formed upon the main frame 0. The lower rollers aresurrounded beneath and at the rear bya jacket, j, shown provided with asteam-supply pipe,p.

The swing-frame bis also formed with ajacket, j, which, in connectionwith the one about the lower rolls, effectually retains the steam nearthe rollers, the end bearings, 0, being also constructed to close thespace at each end of the rolls, as shown at 7:. A waste-pipe, f, isprovided at the lowest part of the jacket, to

In Figs. land 2, a c are the lower rollers, and.

eighty revolutions per ininuteand are then drain off the water whichwould fall into the tank usually provided upon the frame 0 for dippingthe felts in hot water at the later stages of the felting process but ifno such tank were employed on the steam-jacketed machine the pipe iswould discharge elsewhere.

The method of leading steam into the perforated roller is shown in Fig.2, It being the supply-pipe, coupled with a swivel-joint to the hollowaxle m, the aperture 12. extending inside the roller and connecting withvarious holes, 0, leading the steam outward to the surface.

By the use of either the steam-roller or the pipe the jacket iseffectually fed with steam and the felts worked under the most favorableconditions.

I am aware that a perforated roller has been patented heretofore to J.Wharton, and do not therefore claim the same as my invention.

Although I use the machine provided with steam in such ajacket forallthe stages of the felting process, I do not limit myselfto such aprocess, but claim the difl'crent processes which I have mentioned abovein the following man- I claim- 1. The steaming-box provided with weightsfor pressing the hats preparatory to the roller treatment, and operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The process herein described for hardening felts by rollersconsisting in subjecting the hats to the vapor of steam in a jacket,surrounding the rollers while rolling, and pressing the hats in theusual manner.

3. In combination with two or more revolving rollers adapted to felt abundle of hats by the process herein described, a steam-jacket forretainingsteam about the rollers, and means for supplying steam thereto,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereto set my hand thisday, February the 2d, 1881.

GEOHG E YULE.

\Vitnesses Trros. S. CRANE, ISADOR HANNOCH.

